User menu

You are here

OCO-2 Launch - Why Study Carbon Dioxide?

Scheduled to launch on July 1, 2014, Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 will map carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere from space. But why do we study carbon dioxide at all? These resources help to answer that question.

Demo (Elementary): A balloon with baking soda is stretched over the mouth of a bottle containing vinegar. When the baking soda is tipped into the balloon, the reaction creates carbon dioxide, causing the balloon to inflate.

Article (Elementary / Middle School): Students learn about the units of measurement used when studying concentrations of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere and why we study this gas in the first place.

Reading (High School): In this textbook chapter, students learn about carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and how historical data present evidence that human sources have contributed to an increase in CO2 levels in Earth's atmosphere.